First, it was an excellent idea to have the library staff learn more about what the general public is doing. We need this experience to have some base of understanding and a frame of reference for questions. Surely, it was more important for the reference staff to do this, but it was generous of the library administration to include all other staff as well.
Second, yes, it has opened up new learning opportunities for me. I will be able to apply some things to what I do personally and professionally. All features, no. And by the way, I still don't like the user agreements. I wonder if there will be a "judgement day" for all the user agreements one has to sign to function on the Web these days.
Third, probably the most useful new experiences for me were the RSS feeds and podcasts. I'm sure I'll continue to use them.
Fourth, I certainly would look forward to participating in a similar program in the future. However, as I'm sure many by now have commented, this took far more time than originally seemed. There really wasn't enough time at the branch to work on it. That wasn't the fault of the supervisors, there simply is a lot to be done at the branch and taking time away wasn't possible. It would have been more efficient to work in pairs, but again that meant two people had to be away from their jobs for an extended period of time--not a realistic expectation.
Much had to be done at home or not at all. That's the reason my last posts were crowded in to a short time. Due to circumstances beyond my control, the last 2 months of my home life surrounded an ongoing emergency. Without much time at work and no time at home, there was a crunch at the end to finish by the 31st. I wanted to finish by the 31st not primarily to get a mp3 player, but because it was my responsibility to follow through with this program as best I could.
All in all I commend the library for providing this opportunity. It just worked out a little differently than we all expected, but hey, so does life in general!
Thursday, January 31, 2008
# 22 Podcasts
Often I come across Pulse of the Planet on Michigan public radio stations. I remember hearing it was available in podcast, so I decided to search for it. Pulse of the Planet provides "a two-minute sound portrait of Planet Earth, tracking the rhythms of nature, culture and science worldwide and blending interviews and extraordinary natural sound."
I originally thought this program was in Michigan, but now I discover it is actually from New York. I added it to my bloglines account at Cascadeblogmon.
I easily found Pulse of the Planet on Podcasts.net, although I had to use some key works because I couldn't remember the exact title. There are truckloads of other podcasts available, and I guess this means that one never has to listen to live radio again :-)
I originally thought this program was in Michigan, but now I discover it is actually from New York. I added it to my bloglines account at Cascadeblogmon.
I easily found Pulse of the Planet on Podcasts.net, although I had to use some key works because I couldn't remember the exact title. There are truckloads of other podcasts available, and I guess this means that one never has to listen to live radio again :-)
# 21 Online Video
As mentioned in a previous post, I often listen to Smooth Jazz on Sky.fm. On Sundays for two hours Jimi King broadcasts the show live from London with a video feed. The "studio" is actually a room in his home. Once in a great while he has a smooth jazz guest. Unfortunately, I missed the program he had with smooth jazz musician Oli Silk on Dec. 16, 2007.
Fortunately, Jimi later posts his visits with the artists on YouTube. So, here's the show Oli Silk visits Jimi King!
Fortunately, Jimi later posts his visits with the artists on YouTube. So, here's the show Oli Silk visits Jimi King!
# 20 Special Treat
The video could be used as an introduction to Web 2.0, but not for someone who hasn't already been using the Web. The pace uses concepts that assume the user knows the "old" definition. If the user doesn't, then the "new" definition doesn't make sense and won't register.
The video presents a concept of a Web 2.0 that seems on the face of it a little grandiose. Will the world really be that dramatically improved by collaboration? The real test is not going too well. For example, the freedom the Internet was supposed to represent is being fairly well controlled by China, with US companies willingly cooperating. Google has agreed to limits on access it never would impose on U.S. users. Russia is regularly launching denial-of-use attacks to any organization (especially news organizations in Europe and the West) that criticizes Putin or Russia.
We always seem to forget that a new tool does not change human nature, regardless of the intent of the tool's inventor. All we get is more of the same in new ways. I still remember how appalled the inventors of atomic energy were when they discovered it's "best" immediate use would be for the "greatest" bomb the world had ever known.
Only when we individually and collectively deliberately decide to act better than on impulse will there be improvement. The effect of Web 2.0 on humanity can be a double improvement over Web 1.0, or it can be a double worsening. Or both.
The video presents a concept of a Web 2.0 that seems on the face of it a little grandiose. Will the world really be that dramatically improved by collaboration? The real test is not going too well. For example, the freedom the Internet was supposed to represent is being fairly well controlled by China, with US companies willingly cooperating. Google has agreed to limits on access it never would impose on U.S. users. Russia is regularly launching denial-of-use attacks to any organization (especially news organizations in Europe and the West) that criticizes Putin or Russia.
We always seem to forget that a new tool does not change human nature, regardless of the intent of the tool's inventor. All we get is more of the same in new ways. I still remember how appalled the inventors of atomic energy were when they discovered it's "best" immediate use would be for the "greatest" bomb the world had ever known.
Only when we individually and collectively deliberately decide to act better than on impulse will there be improvement. The effect of Web 2.0 on humanity can be a double improvement over Web 1.0, or it can be a double worsening. Or both.
# 19 Digital Music
I regularly listen to Sky.fm at home. I bought an Internet radio after listening to the station on computer. I also was frustrated with commercial broadcast radio. I like the Smooth Jazz station and am listening to it now! On Sundays from 12-2 pm I listen and watch Jimi King live from the London studio, which is actually a room in his house.
I also listen to some broadcast stations through Internet radio. Since the Internet is world wide, there are many thousands of stations available. On St. Patrick's Day last year I put on a station playing traditional Irish music from Dublin Ireland for the staff to hear before we opened the branch. Authentic fun!
One disappointment is that a shocking number of stations around the world play primarily American music. For example, the most popular type of music in Kenya is country-western from the 50's, 60's and 70's. That was hard to figure until I heard a report explaining that an important part of their culture involves storytelling. The old country-western songs always have a story to tell, and this is the appeal for Kenyans. A station will actually go out of business for lack of listeners if it doesn't play a high percentage of country-western.
I haven't tried file sharing simply because I don't even listen to my own pre-recorded music any more. I like Internet radio and see no reason to buy or collect anything at this point.
I did find Pandora interesting, also the Sonos unit mentioned in the FAQ. I have a Soundbridge unit that plays Internet radio, and Sonos is something different again. However, in reading about the Sonos setup it's clear that it has it's own set of compatibility problems with various operating systems, etc. What I call the "monkey around factor" is too high. So until the bugs are ironed out, I can wait!
I also listen to some broadcast stations through Internet radio. Since the Internet is world wide, there are many thousands of stations available. On St. Patrick's Day last year I put on a station playing traditional Irish music from Dublin Ireland for the staff to hear before we opened the branch. Authentic fun!
One disappointment is that a shocking number of stations around the world play primarily American music. For example, the most popular type of music in Kenya is country-western from the 50's, 60's and 70's. That was hard to figure until I heard a report explaining that an important part of their culture involves storytelling. The old country-western songs always have a story to tell, and this is the appeal for Kenyans. A station will actually go out of business for lack of listeners if it doesn't play a high percentage of country-western.
I haven't tried file sharing simply because I don't even listen to my own pre-recorded music any more. I like Internet radio and see no reason to buy or collect anything at this point.
I did find Pandora interesting, also the Sonos unit mentioned in the FAQ. I have a Soundbridge unit that plays Internet radio, and Sonos is something different again. However, in reading about the Sonos setup it's clear that it has it's own set of compatibility problems with various operating systems, etc. What I call the "monkey around factor" is too high. So until the bugs are ironed out, I can wait!
# 18 Social Networking
Although social networks are rapid ways of distributing information, what kind of information is being distributed is the main question. The accuracy and importance of that information is also a question. Whether gossip about a celebrity, personal information about yourself, or destructive/vindictive information about another, I believe social networking is here to stay. Perhaps the destructive and invasive uses will prompt a few more controls than currently in place.
Teens and 20 somethings have been the focus of the social networking craze. As with anything teen, there are fads and fads fade. Lately I've seen articles saying the useage for this age range is fading. "Facebook fatigue" is the catchy phrase.
Whether for good in creating new circles of friends with common interests, or for ill in efforts to harass another, teens will always look to group with eachother because it is part of growing up and away from the bonds of the family. As these individuals grow it remains to be seen whether or not they will find new uses for the technology to network personally with another.
I haven't had a need for registering at social networking sites. I have become more aware over the past couple of years that whatever is put on the Web can have unintended consequences later. Additionally, the threat of identity theft is also ever present. Experts advise the less information you publish about yourself the better.
As with every other application of Web 2.0, the content is only as benevolent or malicious as its users want it to be. Since social networking draws a cross-section of individuals, it expresses a cross-section of intent. It is much like so many other inventions: the good or evil is not in the invention, but in the hand that controls the tool.
Teens and 20 somethings have been the focus of the social networking craze. As with anything teen, there are fads and fads fade. Lately I've seen articles saying the useage for this age range is fading. "Facebook fatigue" is the catchy phrase.
Whether for good in creating new circles of friends with common interests, or for ill in efforts to harass another, teens will always look to group with eachother because it is part of growing up and away from the bonds of the family. As these individuals grow it remains to be seen whether or not they will find new uses for the technology to network personally with another.
I haven't had a need for registering at social networking sites. I have become more aware over the past couple of years that whatever is put on the Web can have unintended consequences later. Additionally, the threat of identity theft is also ever present. Experts advise the less information you publish about yourself the better.
As with every other application of Web 2.0, the content is only as benevolent or malicious as its users want it to be. Since social networking draws a cross-section of individuals, it expresses a cross-section of intent. It is much like so many other inventions: the good or evil is not in the invention, but in the hand that controls the tool.
# 17 Wikis
In addition to its use as a collaborative informational tool, a library wiki can be a great way for librarians to gently introduce library users to various concepts. While it's good for a FAQ resource, an even better use is as a method to instruct.
For example, a frequent issue for students is the difference between an online reference source and an ordinary Web page. Students are sometimes supposed to cite a nonWeb source for a research paper. They think that accessing a database through the Web means it is a Web page. Not so. A Wiki explanation of how the two differ, with links or screen shots of examples can help dispel this misinformation and do it in a nonpedantic way.
For example, a frequent issue for students is the difference between an online reference source and an ordinary Web page. Students are sometimes supposed to cite a nonWeb source for a research paper. They think that accessing a database through the Web means it is a Web page. Not so. A Wiki explanation of how the two differ, with links or screen shots of examples can help dispel this misinformation and do it in a nonpedantic way.
# 16 Technorati
Searching in Blog posts for Learning 2.0 brings up 20,371 hits! These results include mere mentios of the word, not necessarily much about the 2.0 as a topic. It also brings up the two words separately, with the article describing nothing about Learning 2.0
Searching in Tags brings up more consistently relevant information, including podcasts as well as written information. While not totally focused in on Learning 2.0 as a topic, it seems an improved search rather than just blogs.
Searching the directory produced 601 hits. These were more focused than the others and the short descriptions gave a good idea of contents.
A victory for collaborative intelligence--which I panned in my earlier posts!
Searching in Tags brings up more consistently relevant information, including podcasts as well as written information. While not totally focused in on Learning 2.0 as a topic, it seems an improved search rather than just blogs.
Searching the directory produced 601 hits. These were more focused than the others and the short descriptions gave a good idea of contents.
A victory for collaborative intelligence--which I panned in my earlier posts!
# 15 Tagging
Tagging on Del.iciou.us is a powerful collaborative tool. As with most applications, it can be used for something serious or not so serious. For fun I looked at "How To Shave Like Your Grandpa, the Art of Manliness" which describes how to shave with a razor and foam. There's a great collection of comments. Some people must have a lot of free time!
My favorite comment is one which no one should have dared post after, a real show-stopper: "Sorry but theres nothing manly about a safety razor, shaving isnt supposed to be a safe activity, comback once you’ve used a straight razor and we’ll talk." As far as I'm concerned, 'nuff said!
This method sure gets around the controled vocabulary of the Library of Congress Subject Headings. LOC for the masses! However, without controled vocabulary, you must assume that everyone will use similar words for similar meaning. With the English language in particular, this may not always be true. You must wade through the posts that make you think, "No, that isn't what I meant."
Ultimately, even though the uncontrolled vocabulary can create meaning and interpretation problems, it becomes a useful tool for research because tagging opens up resources that might never otherwise be available, and allows you to stumble upon ideas that would never otherwise be found.
My favorite comment is one which no one should have dared post after, a real show-stopper: "Sorry but theres nothing manly about a safety razor, shaving isnt supposed to be a safe activity, comback once you’ve used a straight razor and we’ll talk." As far as I'm concerned, 'nuff said!
This method sure gets around the controled vocabulary of the Library of Congress Subject Headings. LOC for the masses! However, without controled vocabulary, you must assume that everyone will use similar words for similar meaning. With the English language in particular, this may not always be true. You must wade through the posts that make you think, "No, that isn't what I meant."
Ultimately, even though the uncontrolled vocabulary can create meaning and interpretation problems, it becomes a useful tool for research because tagging opens up resources that might never otherwise be available, and allows you to stumble upon ideas that would never otherwise be found.
# 14 Best of Web 2.0
My choice was Farecast, since I will be traveling in March. I liked the idea of forecasting the time of year when prices were highest and lowest--that is until I discovered that Grand Rapids was not on their list of 75 cities! Neither was the city where I wanted to go.
I changed the cities to major airports nearby and discovered that the graph would not go beyond a 30 day block of time. I bought a ticket a couple of weeks ago and was of course interested to see if I bought too early. From the looks of it, I did, assuming all flights mentioned were still available. BTW, it seems coming and going on a Tuesday is often the cheapest.
There are wild fluctuations in price that in some cases don't make sense. The dates around Feb. 14 are expensive, which makes some sense, but then there are other dates that are expensive for seemingly no reason. And does this mean that you should wait until a date is ordinarily a low fare even if it's not far from the date you want to travel? Probably not, as there is likely to be no more tickets available by that time.
You can be sure that I'll revisit this site before I do any buying next time. But I'll also revisit as I get closer to my departure date to see if it's really accurate. I'm hoping that by experimenting with times and dates and combining this search with airline sites, I can figure out how to best use this tool and what the proper timing is for looking and purchasing an air ticket.
I changed the cities to major airports nearby and discovered that the graph would not go beyond a 30 day block of time. I bought a ticket a couple of weeks ago and was of course interested to see if I bought too early. From the looks of it, I did, assuming all flights mentioned were still available. BTW, it seems coming and going on a Tuesday is often the cheapest.
There are wild fluctuations in price that in some cases don't make sense. The dates around Feb. 14 are expensive, which makes some sense, but then there are other dates that are expensive for seemingly no reason. And does this mean that you should wait until a date is ordinarily a low fare even if it's not far from the date you want to travel? Probably not, as there is likely to be no more tickets available by that time.
You can be sure that I'll revisit this site before I do any buying next time. But I'll also revisit as I get closer to my departure date to see if it's really accurate. I'm hoping that by experimenting with times and dates and combining this search with airline sites, I can figure out how to best use this tool and what the proper timing is for looking and purchasing an air ticket.
# 13 Online Productivity
Zoho Writer would be the perfect application for the traveling buisness person. Rather than have to carry a laptop for emailing back and forth to colleagues, it is possible to produce and collaborate online. Word does allow this collaborative feature now, but this takes it a step farther by storing it online.
Since it allows tagging, posting to blogs, and synchronizing a stored offline document with an online document, mobility and productivity are combined--hey, I should write commercials, hmm?
KDL's Intranet with the shared applications seems to be a similar version of this concept. The main difference is that this is open to the public and our Intranet is not.
Since I don't have the type of position that requires mobility, I don't think I'd be able to find a rationale for using this regularly. However, if I found myself traveling and needed access to any of the applications available, I could use Zoho and be sure of compatibility where ever else I went and whatever other computer I used. And that's something you can't always say about Microsoft Word!
Since it allows tagging, posting to blogs, and synchronizing a stored offline document with an online document, mobility and productivity are combined--hey, I should write commercials, hmm?
KDL's Intranet with the shared applications seems to be a similar version of this concept. The main difference is that this is open to the public and our Intranet is not.
Since I don't have the type of position that requires mobility, I don't think I'd be able to find a rationale for using this regularly. However, if I found myself traveling and needed access to any of the applications available, I could use Zoho and be sure of compatibility where ever else I went and whatever other computer I used. And that's something you can't always say about Microsoft Word!
# 12 Customized Search Engines
My search roll example is Big Company News. Not really hard to create at all. I sometimes search for company information in response to reference questions. I set this up using several finance-related sites, but I will also be able to add sites like hoovers.com to include business reports, company profiles, and information on executives.
I can see creating several different search strategies for particular topics. This should save time when I need to search several specialized sites that will have specific information, while avoiding sites like Google.
I suppose if I wanted to defeat the purpose of Rollyo I could combine several Web search engines that combine other search engines (like Dogpile). I already know what I would name it: "Avalanche." :-)
I can see creating several different search strategies for particular topics. This should save time when I need to search several specialized sites that will have specific information, while avoiding sites like Google.
I suppose if I wanted to defeat the purpose of Rollyo I could combine several Web search engines that combine other search engines (like Dogpile). I already know what I would name it: "Avalanche." :-)
# 11 Library Thing
Here's a great idea to introduce the public to the concept of a catalog by having them use a sort of catalog for themselves. If it makes the catalog less intimidating, great. Since people are often looking for other things to read or read-a-likes, this is the perfect introduction to searching for related materials and collecting lists of what was liked. Sharing with friends makes the list even more useful, and I can see book club member collaborating online with each other. Distance from each other or the library no longer matters.
The concept seemed familiar to me, as though I had seen a scaled down version before. Then in the About section I saw that it is based on EndNote, a bibliographic program used for writing research papers. That is what I used when doing papers at WSU! In many ways, this is basically an upgraded Web version!
My beginning catalog is at Cascadeblogmon's Catalog (the name on the site uses my email login, keebbaz). Didn't have time to add much yet, but I do get the concept.
The concept seemed familiar to me, as though I had seen a scaled down version before. Then in the About section I saw that it is based on EndNote, a bibliographic program used for writing research papers. That is what I used when doing papers at WSU! In many ways, this is basically an upgraded Web version!
My beginning catalog is at Cascadeblogmon's Catalog (the name on the site uses my email login, keebbaz). Didn't have time to add much yet, but I do get the concept.
# 10 Web 2.0 and Libraries
A definition of Library 2.0 comes from Wikipedia "…increased flow of information from the user back to the library" and "Library 2.0 also attempts to harness the library user in the design and implementation of library services by encouraging feedback and participation. Proponents of this concept expect that ultimately the Library 2.0 model for service will replace traditional, one-directional service offerings that have characterized libraries for centuries."
Wikipedia goes on to state that actually these concepts are not new, it’s just the combination or convergence of them that is new. I concur. So much of what is "new" is actually repackaging of other ideas, and in this case I think that’s true. For many years libraries have been increasingly responsive to patron’s needs. I expect the main difference now is that they simply are responding more quickly and through a variety of different channels that didn’t exist even 10-20 years ago. Into a new world of librarianship by Michael Stephens says, "User-centered libraries breakdown barriers and allow users access wherever they are…" I think KDL has already done well with this concept, as well as using and integrating new technology.
"To better bibliographic services" by John J. Riemer states, "Federated searching needs to pull data from all these separate silos and combine resources in new and valuable ways for users." Certainly this is becoming an expectation of the general public, just as they have been lead to expect constant improvement from any service. However, in my opinion two key cautions remain. First, is usability; second is quality and control of content.
Usability is addressed by "Away from the 'icebergs' " by Rick Anderson. He states, "But if our services can’t be used without training, then it’s the services that need to be fixed—not our patrons." Unfortunately, librarians have no control over this even though we’re expected to know all about every technology available in the library or accessible through library computers. It appears there will be constant tension for a long time between how much we could or should be training the public, and whether or not we should even offer something each librarian can’t troubleshoot.
My second concern is quality and control of content. Tim Storey from the OCLC Newsletter article, "Where will the next generation Web take libraries?" makes the statement, "Consider the roaring success of sites that embody Web 2.0 principles of simplicity, rich interactivity, user participation, collective intelligence, self-service, novel and remixed content—Flickr, MySpace, FaceBook, del.icio.us, YouTube, LibraryThing—to name a few." Oh come on. Do these sites really reflect "collective intelligence?" Is the "novel and remixed content" always findable and user-friendly? I think not. These sites reflect the content of their users which is too often far from being collectively intelligent.
My nervousness continues when I read "To more powerful ways to cooperate" by Chip Nilges. He states, "Another key lesson that O’Reilly emphasizes is the notion that ‘users add value.’ For OCLC and its member libraries, this means expanding our definition of ‘collective intelligence’ beyond the library professional to faculty, researchers, library patrons and others by building into our systems services that encourage these users contribute their expertise to the cooperative." Having just said above that we need to beware of the "collective intelligence," I will add that unlike other sites, librarians need to be far more careful of who adds what "expertise." The Internet still seems to be at the stage where value just means quantity. This had better not be the case for library-related sites. If it is, we might as well name the next library meta-search tool "Avalanche."
All of the articles emphasize the glowing attributes of more online content and less use for paper content. With Web 2.0 and as one article says, 3.0 and beyond, is always online is a good thing? That depends on so many factors. Briefly, first, whether or not one considers online life better than "offline" life. Second, much depends upon how much time you believe sitting at the computer is "worth it." One article mentions that some people spend 40+ hrs per week on Second Life. It bothers me that the name Second Life sort of elevates the experience, as though "second" implies a higher and somehow better existance than regular life. For some, sadly this might be true. But I believe to put virtual life in perspective, a better name would be "Secondary Life."
Finally, is always online and increasing dependence on connectivity such a good thing? Ask the country of India on January 30 and 31, 2008. As I write this, news reports are saying their Internet connectivity bandwidth capacity has been reduced 50%. The cause is not immediately clear, except to say it doesn’t appear to be terrorist related or a denial-of-service attack. Early indications are that there has been a disruption or break in a fiber optic cable in the Atlantic. India’s economy is so heavily dependent on the Internet, as so much is outsourced to them. There is concern this could cost billions in lost revenue and an erosion of confidence by customers. Predictions are that it could take days to find the break and even more days to fix. The lesson: we must always keep in mind that the Internet (both computer operating systems and connectivity) is a house of cards. Is it really so forward-thinking to put all our eggs in one basket?
UPDATE Feb. 2, 2008
More details about the Internet cable problem from CNN/World. "(CNN) -- An undersea cable carrying Internet traffic was cut off the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai, officials said Friday, the third loss of a line carrying Internet and telephone traffic in three days. " ... "repairs were expected to be completed by February 12. France Telecom, part owner of the other cable, said it was uncertain when repairs on it would be repaired."... "the cables off Egypt were likely damaged by ships' anchors." ... "snarled Internet and phone traffic from Egypt to India." ... "The Indian ISPs were still alerting customers to slowdowns over the next few days with service quality delays of 50 percent to 60 percent." ... "Most of the major Internet service providers in India, like Reliance and VSNL, were starting to use backup lines Friday, allowing service to slowly come back" ... "State-owned Dubai telecom provider Du and Kuwait's Ministry of Communications estimated Thursday that the problems might take two weeks to fix. "
The article also said that work-arounds are in process and preventive measures are being taken, but you get my point.
Wikipedia goes on to state that actually these concepts are not new, it’s just the combination or convergence of them that is new. I concur. So much of what is "new" is actually repackaging of other ideas, and in this case I think that’s true. For many years libraries have been increasingly responsive to patron’s needs. I expect the main difference now is that they simply are responding more quickly and through a variety of different channels that didn’t exist even 10-20 years ago. Into a new world of librarianship by Michael Stephens says, "User-centered libraries breakdown barriers and allow users access wherever they are…" I think KDL has already done well with this concept, as well as using and integrating new technology.
"To better bibliographic services" by John J. Riemer states, "Federated searching needs to pull data from all these separate silos and combine resources in new and valuable ways for users." Certainly this is becoming an expectation of the general public, just as they have been lead to expect constant improvement from any service. However, in my opinion two key cautions remain. First, is usability; second is quality and control of content.
Usability is addressed by "Away from the 'icebergs' " by Rick Anderson. He states, "But if our services can’t be used without training, then it’s the services that need to be fixed—not our patrons." Unfortunately, librarians have no control over this even though we’re expected to know all about every technology available in the library or accessible through library computers. It appears there will be constant tension for a long time between how much we could or should be training the public, and whether or not we should even offer something each librarian can’t troubleshoot.
My second concern is quality and control of content. Tim Storey from the OCLC Newsletter article, "Where will the next generation Web take libraries?" makes the statement, "Consider the roaring success of sites that embody Web 2.0 principles of simplicity, rich interactivity, user participation, collective intelligence, self-service, novel and remixed content—Flickr, MySpace, FaceBook, del.icio.us, YouTube, LibraryThing—to name a few." Oh come on. Do these sites really reflect "collective intelligence?" Is the "novel and remixed content" always findable and user-friendly? I think not. These sites reflect the content of their users which is too often far from being collectively intelligent.
My nervousness continues when I read "To more powerful ways to cooperate" by Chip Nilges. He states, "Another key lesson that O’Reilly emphasizes is the notion that ‘users add value.’ For OCLC and its member libraries, this means expanding our definition of ‘collective intelligence’ beyond the library professional to faculty, researchers, library patrons and others by building into our systems services that encourage these users contribute their expertise to the cooperative." Having just said above that we need to beware of the "collective intelligence," I will add that unlike other sites, librarians need to be far more careful of who adds what "expertise." The Internet still seems to be at the stage where value just means quantity. This had better not be the case for library-related sites. If it is, we might as well name the next library meta-search tool "Avalanche."
All of the articles emphasize the glowing attributes of more online content and less use for paper content. With Web 2.0 and as one article says, 3.0 and beyond, is always online is a good thing? That depends on so many factors. Briefly, first, whether or not one considers online life better than "offline" life. Second, much depends upon how much time you believe sitting at the computer is "worth it." One article mentions that some people spend 40+ hrs per week on Second Life. It bothers me that the name Second Life sort of elevates the experience, as though "second" implies a higher and somehow better existance than regular life. For some, sadly this might be true. But I believe to put virtual life in perspective, a better name would be "Secondary Life."
Finally, is always online and increasing dependence on connectivity such a good thing? Ask the country of India on January 30 and 31, 2008. As I write this, news reports are saying their Internet connectivity bandwidth capacity has been reduced 50%. The cause is not immediately clear, except to say it doesn’t appear to be terrorist related or a denial-of-service attack. Early indications are that there has been a disruption or break in a fiber optic cable in the Atlantic. India’s economy is so heavily dependent on the Internet, as so much is outsourced to them. There is concern this could cost billions in lost revenue and an erosion of confidence by customers. Predictions are that it could take days to find the break and even more days to fix. The lesson: we must always keep in mind that the Internet (both computer operating systems and connectivity) is a house of cards. Is it really so forward-thinking to put all our eggs in one basket?
UPDATE Feb. 2, 2008
More details about the Internet cable problem from CNN/World. "(CNN) -- An undersea cable carrying Internet traffic was cut off the Persian Gulf emirate of Dubai, officials said Friday, the third loss of a line carrying Internet and telephone traffic in three days. " ... "repairs were expected to be completed by February 12. France Telecom, part owner of the other cable, said it was uncertain when repairs on it would be repaired."... "the cables off Egypt were likely damaged by ships' anchors." ... "snarled Internet and phone traffic from Egypt to India." ... "The Indian ISPs were still alerting customers to slowdowns over the next few days with service quality delays of 50 percent to 60 percent." ... "Most of the major Internet service providers in India, like Reliance and VSNL, were starting to use backup lines Friday, allowing service to slowly come back" ... "State-owned Dubai telecom provider Du and Kuwait's Ministry of Communications estimated Thursday that the problems might take two weeks to fix. "
The article also said that work-arounds are in process and preventive measures are being taken, but you get my point.
# 9 Library Blogs
Started out by looking at Topix. Actually, news.google has a similar feature that allows you to search for all items on a particular topic. However, one cool feature of Topix is that it gives a graph of how frequently your chosen subject has appeared in the news in the last year. It may be very useful to discover this, as it will allow you correlate it with other events or even show how long a particular event "echos" in the public's attention.
From Syndic8.com I added Wired News to my feed. There are so many feeds available that it would not be realistic to think you’re going to really see them all. There was a choice to click on the British flag to see feeds from that country, but it turned out there was only one from an individual. I guess the key to remember here is that the site has user contributed feeds.
Technorati reminds me of a spaghetti bowl. One strand leads deeper and is next to a lot of other strands. You can keep taking strands and end up no where near where you started. Recently I saw an article about "Facebook fatigue" and how usage is falling off. I can well imagine before long there is going to be "blog fatigue." Of the three sites, this is the least attractive to me.
Actually, for fairly raw news, just getting a feed from Reuters or the AP would do well. However, it appears these days most people like a predefined "spin" to their information.
From Syndic8.com I added Wired News to my feed. There are so many feeds available that it would not be realistic to think you’re going to really see them all. There was a choice to click on the British flag to see feeds from that country, but it turned out there was only one from an individual. I guess the key to remember here is that the site has user contributed feeds.
Technorati reminds me of a spaghetti bowl. One strand leads deeper and is next to a lot of other strands. You can keep taking strands and end up no where near where you started. Recently I saw an article about "Facebook fatigue" and how usage is falling off. I can well imagine before long there is going to be "blog fatigue." Of the three sites, this is the least attractive to me.
Actually, for fairly raw news, just getting a feed from Reuters or the AP would do well. However, it appears these days most people like a predefined "spin" to their information.
# 8 RSS Feeds
This was the exercise I was most interested in learning. I've seen the link for RSS for some time and never "went there." For me, this feature will be convenient for tracking specific items, such as stock market news, etc.
I've chosen a couple of large companies to monitor to see how much more I could learn this way rather than just stumbling upon these companies in the regular news. It already looks like a much more comprehensive way of collecting information, but the drawback is that its a real time sink. One technical note, if I move away from the list of feeds, I would prefer to just have the one item I've read disappear rather than the whole list.
In my work life, I can use RSS to stay informed for both publishing news and news about our profession. I do already have a couple of email feeds, and I notice they are also available RSS.
Libraries can use the technology to inform the public about new items or to promote books, as KDL already does. It could also be used to update the public about any activites being planned.
I haven't had time to actually post blogs there, but here's the link Cascadeblogmon.
I've chosen a couple of large companies to monitor to see how much more I could learn this way rather than just stumbling upon these companies in the regular news. It already looks like a much more comprehensive way of collecting information, but the drawback is that its a real time sink. One technical note, if I move away from the list of feeds, I would prefer to just have the one item I've read disappear rather than the whole list.
In my work life, I can use RSS to stay informed for both publishing news and news about our profession. I do already have a couple of email feeds, and I notice they are also available RSS.
Libraries can use the technology to inform the public about new items or to promote books, as KDL already does. It could also be used to update the public about any activites being planned.
I haven't had time to actually post blogs there, but here's the link Cascadeblogmon.
Friday, January 25, 2008
# 7 Image Generators
As mentioned in post #6, the Library of Congress has sent thousands of images to Flickr. I used one and created a whimsical poster through Motivator from Big Huge Labs. While this isn't exactly a "motivational" message, I think it works.
There are so many options to choose from in Big Huge Labs, I think it changes what the user thinks he or she is going to do. The user could start out to search for some particular effect, then see what's available and probably decide to use an effect that's available instead of searching.
Some effects are fairly self explanatory, but some are not, such as "Pool Cleaner." Searching the list of available effects is a little misleading. Some are not effects at all, like Pool Cleaner, which is a tool to eliminate unwanted photos from a group of photos.
There are also choices that are neither effects nor photo tools, such as a digital camera ranking and world wide sunrise/sunset times. I can't figure out why it's good to bundle unrelated items together, but I suppose that's the librarian in me coming out again.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
#6 Mashups
On a cold wintery day I decided Trip Planner seemed to be a good way of "expanding horizons." After veiwing several, I was both disappointed and encouranged. Some were just a list of places visited, amounting to nothing more than free advertising for the hotel or attractions.
If the writer intended to create an iterary and then fill it in with personal information, there sure were a lot of trips waiting for comments.
I was disappointed there weren't many comments. Makes me wonder how many start with the intention, then never quite follow through. Without any personal input, the trip just gives the reader an idea of what one person found in a particular area. Even if the person didn't add a discussion or description, it would be somwhat useful if the person could add just a simple comment or even a photo for the places that do not have promotional photos of their own.
Actually, it occurs to me that travel companies or hotels could pay people to post "great trips" that just happen to be to the company's several properties or affilliates. In other words, a form of self promotion through guerilla advertising. Hmmm. Have I discovered a part time job? :-)
Of much more value are the entries that contain advice about the particular place, such as a specific restaurant or attraction. There was also one about the culture of the place (Aruba) and helped to remind the reader that the locals appreciate it when you're not just a "tourist" but actually interested in the culture and language. When you find this type of entry, it's possible to get the feel of the trip in more than a traveloge way. It is also possible to really learn something, but learning something worthwhile can be a needle in a haystack experience.
I did discover that the Library of Congress plans to put over 3,000 historic photos in "The Commons" site of Flickr. This will accomplish making the photos more available to the public, but also allow the public to create captions for photos that are of unknown subjects or origins. Flickr tags will also help the photos be found and used and be of benefit to everyone. You can read the entire article at: Computerworld.
If the writer intended to create an iterary and then fill it in with personal information, there sure were a lot of trips waiting for comments.
I was disappointed there weren't many comments. Makes me wonder how many start with the intention, then never quite follow through. Without any personal input, the trip just gives the reader an idea of what one person found in a particular area. Even if the person didn't add a discussion or description, it would be somwhat useful if the person could add just a simple comment or even a photo for the places that do not have promotional photos of their own.
Actually, it occurs to me that travel companies or hotels could pay people to post "great trips" that just happen to be to the company's several properties or affilliates. In other words, a form of self promotion through guerilla advertising. Hmmm. Have I discovered a part time job? :-)
Of much more value are the entries that contain advice about the particular place, such as a specific restaurant or attraction. There was also one about the culture of the place (Aruba) and helped to remind the reader that the locals appreciate it when you're not just a "tourist" but actually interested in the culture and language. When you find this type of entry, it's possible to get the feel of the trip in more than a traveloge way. It is also possible to really learn something, but learning something worthwhile can be a needle in a haystack experience.
I did discover that the Library of Congress plans to put over 3,000 historic photos in "The Commons" site of Flickr. This will accomplish making the photos more available to the public, but also allow the public to create captions for photos that are of unknown subjects or origins. Flickr tags will also help the photos be found and used and be of benefit to everyone. You can read the entire article at: Computerworld.
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